Page 5 of Winter's Scorching Kisses
“You appear to be having a good time.” She remarked feeling a tad bitter that she was the only one weighed down by so many horrible emotions like sadness, anger, and worry.
“It turned out to be better than I thought.”
Adorra cocked her head to the side, wondering what he meant by that. Before she could ask what he meant, he took her hand and guided her away from Isabel and over to where a dance was beginning. A circle formed, and as the flutes and singers began, the circle of people spun around, their feet beating a rhythm against the stone blocks of the floor.
Giggles overtook her, as the dancing brought joy once more into her life. Their circle spun a little faster as the pace of the music increased, and she felt her cheeks heat as she kept her slippered feet moving over the stone floor of the great hall.
As the music came to an end, so did the spinning, and she felt a rush of blood enter her head. The room spun slightly, and she chuckled with delight.
“Excuse me,” Adorra said to Edmund before making her way to a table were glasses of wine were. As she took a glass and took a sip, she raised a hand to her heated cheeks using her cold fingers to cool her cheeks as the excitement of the dance slowly winded down.
It’d been a mistake to wear a smaller corset. The damn thing was digging into her ribcage and made vigorous activity like dancing too difficult.
Another song picked up, and the dancing resumed, with some new additions to the circle of dancers.
Isabel sidled up beside her. “It appears as though you’re having more fun.”
“I am,” Adorra confirmed as she pressed a hand against her waist and the infernal corset she’d insisted on wearing. She had no idea why she’d been such a nervous wreck before the ceremony. Edmund loved her, and they were about to start something magical together.
“Here.” Isabel raised a plate of finger foods for Adorra to examine. “Have some. There’s nothing worse than an empty stomach on such an exhausting night.”
“Speaking from experience?” She arched one of her eyebrows.
“Unfortunately, yes,” Isabel confirmed with a grimace. “I only wish my mother had prepared me better. I was barely seventeen when I was wed. Thankfully, you’re older and can learn from my experience.”
Adorra picked up a piece of cheese and popped it into her mouth. It melted on her tongue. “You’re right. I needed some food.” Her stomach rumbled quietly in agreement.
“Have the plate then.” Isabel offered it over to her.
“Are you sure?”
Isabel nodded her head. Her chestnut eyes danced with some glee. “I want to dance in this next song anyways.” Isabel skipped away the skirts of her dress swaying to the movement of the flutes.
Adorra found herself relaxing as she watched everyone in the great hall having a good time. Finally, everything was going right for her, and she would do her best to enjoy it.
Edmund’s head fell back as he cast his eyes up to the ceiling as he spun around in a circle with the other dancers. This wedding had turned out to be a little more fun then he’d anticipated. Thankfully, Jasmine’s sudden disappearance hadn’t dimmed Adorra’s spirits too much. There’d been a few times when he’d worried she might call off the wedding.
When Jasmine had caught him and Keir in the stables plotting her sister’s demise, he’d been worried the rouse was up. Everything had worked out though when she’d fallen from the rafters. Jasmine had been stunned from the fall allowing Edmund time to react. He’d ordered Keir, his trusted man, to take her into the chilly mountains and leave her there, buried in the snow.
By now, Jasmine had frozen to death and would no longer be a problem. It was another reason why it was so easy for him to smile. His plan was going ahead without any major hitches.
“You are lucky!” Isabel, Adorra’s close friend, called out as they continued to spin around to the music.
Edmund glanced over at her, one of her hands firmly clasped in one of his. Her chestnut eyes danced with merriment, as did many people’s.
“I know!” He called back over the music and stamping of people’s feet. He’d worried about acting the doting suitor when he didn’t find Adorra attractive, but no one had seemed to catch on that he wasn’t in love.
Adorra was beautiful, but she wasn’t the type of woman he wanted as his bride. She was just a means to an end. Once he married her, he’d have her lands and wealth. Then he wouldn’t need her anymore.
There was another lady at court he wanted for his wife, Clarice. Just the thought of her floating through his mind had his cock shooting rock hard. Clarice was captivating with her straw blonde hair and aquamarine hair. Adorra stood no chance next to Clarice. One day soon, she would be his. Once Adorra was dead, and enough time had passed he would pursue Clarice with his newly acquired wealth. And then he knew she would accept him.
As the song ended, Edmund excused himself and made his way over to a table and took a seat as he watched the room. Everyone was having a merry time, and he’d done his best to make sure he looked like nothing but a beaming husband looking forward to his wedding night. No one here would suspect him of plotting.
“Do you have it planned?” Keir rushed up beside him, his stale breath washing over Edmund.
With a frown, Edmund leaned away as he addressed him without facing his servant, “Yes. Tonight, I will offer Adorra some more wine when we’re alone, and it will be laced with poison. It will end up looking like natural causes.”
Keir cackled like a witch by his side as Edmund reached a hand into his pocket and thumbed the vile he had hidden there. “Soon, she’ll be taking her last desperate gasp for air.”
